VP-8 ‘Fighting Tigers’ hold change of command

Cmdr. Edward Kribs offers his remarks after assuming command of Patrol Squadron 8 during a change of command ceremony aboard Naval Air Station Jacksonville, May 4.

Photos by MC2 Clay Whaley

Patrol Squadron 8 Commanding Officer Cmdr. Edward Kribs is pinned with the command at sea insignia by his wife during the squadron's change of command ceremony, May 4. The insignia consists of a five-point star superimposed on anchor flukes and a partially unfolded commission pennant showing six stars. All officers presently in command at sea wear the insignia.

Cmdr. Edward Kribs assumed command of Patrol Squadron (VP) 8 from Cmdr. Christopher Woods during a traditional change of command ceremony aboard Naval Air Station Jacksonville, May 4. Kribs is the 69th commanding officer of the VP-8 “Fighting Tigers.”

Kribs assumes the reins of VP-8 in the midst of a busy optimized fleet response plan, as the squadron works up to its next deployment in the fall. “It has been a tremendous honor to work with Skipper Wood over the past year, and I am especially grateful to have the opportunity to work with every Tiger to complete our mission as we prepare to return to 7th Fleet this year,” said Kribs, a native of Granite Bay, California.

Kribs graduated from the United States Naval Academy in 1999 with a Bachelor of Science in Oceanography and earned his naval aviator wings in October 2001.

After receiving initial P-3 training with VP-30 at NAS Jacksonville, he reported to the “Grey Knights” of VP-46 at Whidbey Island, Washington. He deployed to 5th Fleet in support of Operation Iraqi Freedom and Operation Enduring Freedom in 2002. In 2004, he deployed to 7th Fleet in support of Operation Enduring Freedom. His duties included aircrew training officer, quality assurance officer and pilot training officer. He earned his qualification as a weapons tactics instructor (WTI), instructor pilot, mission commander and assistant NATOPS evaluator.

In February 2006, Kribs joined VP-30 as a Fleet Replacement Squadron (FRS) instructor pilot. While there, he was assigned to the VP-30 Weapons Tactics Unit as the WTI program manager and the instructor under training (IUT)/standardization pilot where he trained and qualified all incoming fleet replacement squadron (FRS) instructor pilots. He earned his qualification as a FRS NATOPS evaluator, FRS IUT instructor pilot, and FRS instructor pilot. He also received a Master of Business Administration Degree from the University of Florida.

In February 2009, Kribs reported aboard USS Ronald Reagan (CVN-76) in San Diego, as the operations department administrative officer and command security manager. While there, he deployed twice to 7th and 5th Fleet. He earned his qualification as a command duty officer underway and an officer of the deck underway.

In January 2011, he joined the “Mad Foxes” of VP-5 at NAS Jacksonville for his department head tour. While there, he deployed on a tri-site deployment to 4th, 5th and 6th Fleet in 2011 and then again to 7th Fleet in May 2012. His duties included command services officer, safety/NATOPS officer, training officer, operations officer while deployed to 7th Fleet and maintenance officer while the squadron transitioned from the P-3C Orion to the P-8A Poseidon. In July 2013, Kribs was assigned to Navy Personnel Command in Millington, Tennessee where he served as the aircraft carrier/carrier strike group placement officer.

Throughout Wood’s tenure, the Fighting Tigers completed maritime patrol and reconnaissance missions and conducted the squadron’s first P-8A deployment to Commander, U.S. 7th Fleet area of responsibility. VP-8 was recognized for their outstanding performance with the 2016 Captain A.J. Isbell Antisubmarine Warfare Trophy and the 2016 Arleigh Burke Fleet Trophy Award.